Day after Manmohan's terror warning, Pak asks for info

Pakistan on Tuesday said it cannot take "lightly" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks about terror groups based in this country planning fresh attacks on India and is awaiting New Delhi's response to its request for sharing information in this regard.

"If the (Indian) Prime Minister says something like this, we can't take it lightly," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters on the sidelines of an official function.

"If there is such information with (India), share it with the government of Pakistan so that we can pre-empt such an act," he said in response to a question about Singh's comments that India had "credible information" of plans by terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks.

"We have conveyed this to them and let's see what is their response," he added.

Qureshi said any credible information on terror threats available with India should be shared with Pakistan because the Prime Ministers of the two countries had decided during their meeting in Egypt last month that both sides "must cooperate with each other" to fight terrorism.

"For such cooperation, we need to share information speedily and in time," he said.

The Foreign Office yesterday conveyed to India's acting Deputy High Commissioner that New Delhi should share any information it has about possible terror threats.

"We have taken serious notice of (Singh's comments) and we want to cooperate with India," Qureshi said.

Pakistan has condemned terrorism at all forums and wants peace and stability in the region and friendly relations with all neighbours, he added.

Asked about Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna's comments that any transfer of US drone technology to Pakistan would affect regional security, Qureshi said: "I have seen Krishna's remarks and I was surprised that he has expressed such concerns without cause.

"Pakistan does not have any aggressive designs. On the other hand, India has increased defence spending and its arsenal and conventional strength. Pakistan has not criticised this. What Pakistan needs is our right," he said.

Replying to another question about alleged Indian involvement in fomenting unrest in Balochistan province, Qureshi said diplomatic channels are available to both countries to address this issue.

"I think these diplomatic channels should be used. The media cannot resolve an issue between two countries," he said.